Draco's Favorite Apple

A Budding Hufflepuff Romance

(A.N. the italics refer to a flashback sequence)

It was the week before Christmas break, the first semester flew by. I blinked and it was almost time to go back home for the holidays. But, where would I go? I definitely could not go back to the Dursley's. Harry had discussed going to the Burrow, and I thought that would be fun but would Mrs. Weasley want another potter in her household? I shook away the thought and turned my attention back to the book in my hands.

I was sitting on the common room floor in a pair of sweats and a t-shirt, my hair up in a messy bun, studying for my finals. Books are scattered around the room, as I tried to digest all the spells and potions I had learned this semester. Cedric laid on the couch, asking me questions off of the notecards I made to help me study.

"What spell unlocks objects such as doors?" Cedric says, reading off of the flash card. "C'mon, Aurora, that's the easiest spell in the book." He says, rolling his eyes.

"I know, I know. Alohomora." I say, rolling my eyes and laughing, lightly hitting Cedric's arm. Since the party, our friendship has grown and we've been inseparable since.

Back to the night of the party...

I looked up at Cedric as he sat on the common room couch, his eyes blank and glossy as he looked up to meet my gaze. I stood in the entrance of the common room, looking down when our gazes met.

"Cedric, I- I'm sorry." I start to say, looking back up to see him standing up and walking towards me.

"I just don't understand, do you like me?" He says, grabbing my hand and as looked at him confused.

"I thought it was obvious," I let out a laugh, shaking my head and looking down,"but, I didn't mean to make you feel exposed at the party. I think Draco put something in my drink and it was unfair of me to even say anything without talking to you first. I assume you probably don't feel the same and I-" I was saying, tears brimming my eyes when Cedric pulled me towards him.

He leaned towards me, lifting up my chin towards his face. He leaned forward pressing his cold lips to mine. We kissed for a few seconds, but it seemed like hours when our lips parted and I opened my eyes. I was out of breath and confused, not being able to form a coherent thought or sentence.

" I - uh, woah" was all I managed to say, as Cedric lets out a light chuckle, his hand cupping my cheek.

"Aurora, why do you think I would not care for you? You are smart, beautiful and brave." Cedric says, as I smile and look down at my feet, a blush forming on my cheeks. " I like you and definitely want to be more than friends." He says with a wink, as I smile then frown.

"I do too Ced, but the things is, I've only known you a week. It takes time to build a relationship and we have just begun our friendship. I like you, like a lot, but I think we should try being friends first and see where it goes." I say, looking up, scared of what he might think or say.

"Aurora, if that is what you want then I respect that. At least I have a new friend." He says, as you smile then pull him into a hug.

I smiled thinking back to that night and how much our friendship has grown since then. We sit together in the dining hall everyday with my friends, study in the library, or even just hang out in the common room and watch movies or play games. I. looked up towards Cedric, smiling.

"Alright, let's take a break. We've been studying for two hours and I am starving." He says, as he throws the notecards up and lets out a sigh.

"Ced! Now we have to pick all those up." I moaned, starting to pick up cards as Cedric stood up and threw me over his shoulders walking towards the hall.